Getting To Tramore Beach In Donegal (Map + Warnings)

Many beaches in Donegal claim to be secluded, but few compare to the majestic Tramore Beach near Dunfanaghy!

In fact, just finding this beautiful beach is half the fun (it took us 50 minutes of sweating over Google Maps to find the right track…).

Below, you’ll find info on everything from how to get to Tramore Beach near Dunfanaghy and where to park to a fair few warnings.

Some quick need-to-knows about Tramore Beach

So, getting to Tramore Beach isn’t overly straightforward. It’s worth taking a minute to read the bullet points below:

1. Location

Tramore Beach looks out from north Donegal towards the Atlantic Ocean. It’s right next to Dunfanaghy and it’s a it’s a 15-minute drive from Falcarragh, a 25-minute drive from Downings and a 30-minute drive from Gweedore.

2. There’s no roads to it

So this is where things can get a little complicated! Since there are no roads leading to Tramore Beach, you’ll find it at the end of an enjoyable 30-minute ramble from the car park just outside of the town. This is a nice little ramble but it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.

3. Finding the car park

Take the road out toward Horn Head from Dunfanaghy and, after crossing the bridge… Scratch that – here’s the location on Google Maps for your convenience. From here you’ll see the beach trail leading through the trees.

4. It’s a long walk from the car park

So, this is an important thing to note if you’re travelling with people who have limited mobility. Once you’ve located the car park, there’s a nice 30-minute walk to the beach but this might not be suitable for some older folks, children or people with a physical disability. Just be aware of the length of the walk before making plans to visit. 

5. WARNING: Swimming NOT advised

With a beach this concealed, it’s pretty easy to understand that there’s zero chance of any lifeguards being present! Not only that, Tramore Beach is also home to dangerous currents and rip tides so swimming here is NOT recommended.

6. There are many beaches called Tramore

If you type Tramore Beach into your Google Maps, there’s a decent chance you’re going to find yourself driving towards the opposite end of the country! There are a lot of Tramore Beaches in Ireland (it means ‘big beach’ in Irish, after all!) so double-check you’re driving towards the one near Dunfanaghy.

About Tramore Beach 

The first thing you’ll notice about Tramore is that, as there’s no road access, it’s largely unspoiled by the excesses of civilization. This is a strand to be savoured and, if you visit during the off-season, the chances are you’ll have it all to yourself.

The beach itself is around 2 miles long and it’s an absolute joy to ramble along. And from its long sandy expanse, you’ll have some lovely views of the rolling ocean, the hazy lump of Tory Island, the rolling countryside and the imposing shape of Muckish Mountain to the south. 

Also, check out the wild rocks on the east side of the beach when the tide is down.

Things to do at Tramore Beach

There’s a couple of things to do in and around Tramore Beach that make it a great morning-out-destination. Here’s some suggestions:

1. Enjoy the walk into it

Despite its beauty, half the reason to visit Tramore Beach is the lovely walk from the car park to the strand which just makes reaching Tramore all the more rewarding. 

Begin by heading through the woods from the car park and before long you’ll be tackling lumpy and bumpy sand dunes as the noise of the road fades and you begin to hear the crashing of waves. 

With birds looping overhead and small herds of horses grazing, you’ll see pretty quickly why this place is such a gem of Donegal’s coast! Saunter down the sandy dunes and you’ll be on the beach with (possibly) nary a soul around!

2. Then enjoy the peace and quiet (hopefully)

All that’s left then is to bask in the peace and quiet of one of Donegal’s (and Ireland’s) most secluded beaches. Go for a ramble along the gently curving strand, take in the stunning views and switch off from the world for a while. 

There’s a fair chance you may be joined by a few others during the warm summer months, but in the winter you’re almost guaranteed to have the place to yourself!

Just remember that you’re not going to find any handy coffee vans or beachside bars here so make sure to pack drinks and snacks before travelling. 

Places to visit near Tramore Beach

One of the beauties of Tramore Beach is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Donegal.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Tramore Beach!

1. Dunfanaghy for food (5-minute drive)

There’s some great restaurants in Dunfanaghy if you fancy a post-walk feed. Our go-tos are the Rusty Oven Pizzeria and Muck n Muffins but there’s plenty of choice around the town.

2. Horn Head (15-minute drive)

Jutting out into the North Atlantic from the Donegal coast, Horn Head offers some seriously epic views! Home to sweeping panoramas, dramatic cliffs and even a WW2 lookout tower, it’s a ragged windswept spot that’s only a 15-minute drive up from Tramore Beach. 

3. Beaches galore (15-minute drive)

You’ll find some of the best beaches in Donegal a stone’s throw from Tramore Beach! With Killahoey Beach and Marble Hill Beach both less than a 15-minute drive away, you’re pretty spoilt for choice (also, they have roads that lead straight up to them, so no need for a half-hour ramble!)

4. Walks galore (15 minutes+)

Although speaking of rambles, if that’s what floats your boat then there are also a ton of great walks to choose from here. You’ll find beautiful trails at Ards Forest Park (a 15-minute drive), Glenveagh National Park (a 25-minute drive), Mount Errigal (a 30-minute drive) and Muckish Mountain (a 20-minute drive). 

FAQs about Tramore Beach near Dunfanaghy

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where’s the parking?’ to ‘Can you swim?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.